[Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions - Spring Meeting (May 13 meeting)

[Matt Bartels via Tweeters]

Hi all -

Happy to report that the results of the Spring 2024 meeting of the Washington Bird Records Committee (WBRC) are now on the WOS website. With this report, two new species were added to the official state checklist. Spring results <https://wos.org/records/votingsummary/spring-2024/> are copied below and also are available online at: https://wos.org/records/votingsummary/spring-2024/

Spring 2024 WBRC Meeting Summary

On Monday, May 13, 2024, the Washington Bird Records Committee met via Zoom for its spring meeting.
Here is a summary of our results:

·       38 reports were accepted as valid new records.
·         1 additional record was accepted as a continuing sighting of a record previously accepted at an earlier meeting.
·         9 reports were not accepted.
 
Two species were added to the official Washington state list with the discovery of a Cassin’s Sparrow on 7 October 2023 and a Song Thrush on 12 January 2024. The state checklist is now 525 species, including 513 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 12 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
[Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
ACCEPTED RECORDS:
 
WHOS-2024-1, Whooper Swan – 14 February - 17 March 2024, Allen West Rd., Samish Flats, Skagit County. Ethan Aron [p], Breyden Beeke [p], Dave Beeke [p], Sierra Downes [p], Louis Kreemer [p], David Poortinga [p], Cordia Sammeth [p], Ellen Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: 2 birds.
 
KIEI-2023-1, King Eider – 10 October - 7 November 2023, Tokeland, Pacific County. Teresa Descher [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
 
SLBG-2023-3, Slaty-backed Gull – 10 August 2023, Bird Rocks, 48.4839586, -122.810948, San Juan County. Amanda Colbert [w, p] (6-1-0).
 
SLBG-2024-1, Slaty-backed Gull – 8 - 12 March 2024, Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County and Marine Park, Vancouver, Clark County. Cowlitz: Louis Kreemer [w, p], Clark: Les Carlson [w], Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0). NOTE: The WBRC voted to consider the two sightings most likely to be of the same individual bird.
 
NABO-2023-1, Nazca Booby – 30 September 2023, Off-shore Westport Pelagic, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
 
NABO-2023-2, Nazca Booby – 1-7 October 2023, Joemma Beach SP, McNeil St. Trail, Nisqually Reach Pierce County, and Luhr Beach, Billy Jay Frank Nisqually NWR, Thurston County.  Jordan Gunn [p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Mark Alan Iantosca [p], Marcus Roening [p], Jason Zolle [w] (7-0-0).
 
NABO-2024-1, Nazca Booby – 6 February 2024, Dickman Mill Park, Tacoma, Pierce County. Peter Wimberger [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Found dead.
 
RFBO-2023-1, Red-footed Booby – 25 September 2023, 48.276837, -123.014733, Strait of Juan de Fuca between San Juan Island national historic park and Dungeness., Clallam County. Marilyn Duncan [w, p], Maya Kurkhill [w, p, v] (7-0-0). NOTE: The WBRC voted to consider the two sightings more likely to be separate individuals (6-1-0).
 
RFBO-2023-2, Red-footed Booby – 11 October 2023, East Elwha Beach, Clallam County. Linda Campbell [w, p] (7-0-0). Found dead. NOTE: The WBRC voted to consider the two sightings more likely to be separate individuals (6-1-0).
 
YBSA-2023-2, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 18 November - 19 December 2023, 10th and Montgomery, Mount Vernon, Skagit County. Joel Brady-Power [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], David Poortinga [p] (7-0-0).
 
YBSA-2024-1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 4 - 7 January 2024, Olympic Discovery Trail, Port Angeles, Clallam County. Michael Barry [w], Roger Hoffman [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
STFL-2023-2, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – 25 October - 27 November 2023, Tokeland, Pacific County. Tasha Dimarzio [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
PIJA-2023-1, Pinyon Jay – 8 October 2023, Olympia, Thurston County. Michelle Napoleon [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
EUSK-2023-1, Eurasian Skylark – 28 November 2023, Vancouver lowlands, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w, a] (7-0-0).
 
WIWR-2023-1, Winter Wren – 25 November 2023 - 7 January 2024, Barnaby Slough, Skagit County. Ryan Merrill [w, a, p] (7-0-0).
 
SOTH-2024-1, Song Thrush – 12 January 2024, West Port Angeles, Clallam County. Scott Gremel [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record/
 
WHWA-2024-1, White Wagtail (M.a. ocularis) – 12 March 2024, Port Susan Bay TNC reserve, Snohomish County. Richard Andrews [w, p, v] (Species ID: 7-0-0, Subspecies ID: ocularis = 7 votes).
 
LIBU-2023-1, Little Bunting – 27 October 2023, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hucheson [w, p], Alex Meilleur [p], Maxine Reid [p], Jason Vassallo [p] (7-0-0).
 
CASP-2023-1, Cassin's Sparrow – 7 October 2023, Waadah Heights Rd., Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Jason Zolle [w] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
 
OROR-2023-1, Orchard Oriole – 29 September – 14 October 2023, Neah Bay, Ba'adah Village Loop, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Alex Meilleur [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Maxine Reid [p], Lin Stern [p], Jason Vassallo [p] (7-0-0).
 
OROR-2023-4, Orchard Oriole – 21 October 2023, Neah Bay [town], Clallam County. Randy Dzenkiw [p], Jordan Gunn [p] (7-0-0).
 
OROR-2023-5, Orchard Oriole – 10 November 2023, Neah Bay [jetty], Clallam County. Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
 
HOOR-2024-1, Hooded Oriole – 20 March 2024, Kelly Ct., Lacey, Thurston County. Gretchen Williams [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
BAOR-2023-1, Baltimore Oriole – 30 September 2023, Education Hill, n of Marymoor Park, Redmond, King County. Ken Warnecke [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
COGR-2023-3, Common Grackle – 7 May 2023, Grayland, Grays Harbor County. Chelsea Stewart [w, p, v] (7-0-0).
 
GTGR-2023-1, Great-tailed Grackle – 12 November 2023 – 11 April 2024, Moses Lake Shopping Mall Audubon Kiosk, Grant County. Margaret Heming [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Becky Kent [p], Maxine Reid [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
 
HOWA-2023-1, Hooded Warbler – 7 - 25 November 2023, E 26th Ave., Spokane Valley, Spokane County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Andrew Thomas [w, p], Michael Woodruff [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
HOWA-2023-2, Hooded Warbler – 10 November 2023 - 1 January 2024, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Andy DeBroux [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Steve Hampton [p], Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Chris Jay [p], Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
 
MAWA-2023-2, Magnolia Warbler – 11 June 2023, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Nicholas Hamill [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
 
BTBW-2023-1, Black-throated Blue Warbler – 16 November 2023 - 10 January 2024, North Anna J Drive, Spokane, Spokane County. Victor Hubbard [w, p], Andrew Thomas [w, p], Michael Woodruff [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
SUTA-2023-1, Summer Tanager – 25 November 2023, NW 96th St., Seattle, King County. Eric Running [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
BLGR-2023-1, Blue Grosbeak – 18 October 2023, Hansville, Kitsap County. George Gerdts [w, p], Mary Anne Rossing [w] (7-0-0).
 
INBU-2023-4, Indigo Bunting – 14 - 20 October 2023, The Village RV Parking Lot, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
 
INBU-2024-1, Indigo Bunting – 2 February 2024, Lower Elwha Rd., Port Angeles, Clallam County. Stephanie Kinnaman [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
PABU-2023-1, Painted Bunting – 29 September 2023, Cape Disappointment SP, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
PABU-2023-2, Painted Bunting – 21 - 22 October 2023, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Joshua Galpern [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Christian Hagenlocher [p] (7-0-0).
 
PABU-2023-3, Painted Bunting – 24-29 October 2023, Seattle, King County. Jane Hadley [w, p], Hank & Karen Heiberg [p, v], Ryan Merrill [p], Randy Robinson [w, p] (7-0-0).
 
DICK-2023-1, Dickcissel – 16 October 2023, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Brad Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p] (7-0-0).
 
RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
 
Slaty-backed Gull in Eastern Washington: The committee agreed that the November 2023 – February 2024 record of a Slaty-backed Gull in Benton and Franklin counties (formerly treated as SBGU-2023-4) is best treated as a returning instance of SBGU-2016-1, the prior sighting of this species in the area the previous seven winters. The two records are merged and treated as SBGU-2016-1.
Dates and observation info for November 2023 – February 2024 occurrence:  Slaty-backed Gull – 11 November 2023 – 17 February, Chiawana Park and Carpet Island, Pasco, Franklin County and Columbia Park Marina and Bateman Island, Benton County Phil Bartley [p], Elke Davis [p], Rowan Young-McMurchie [p] (7-0-0).
 
 
REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
 
COHU-2024-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 21 - 23 March 2024, Meadowlark Lane, Moxee, Yakima County (1-6-0).
 
MASA-2023-1, Marsh Sandpiper – 22 September 2023, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-5-2).
 
TBMU-2024-1, Thick-billed Murre – 13 January 2024, Point No Point, Hansville, Kitsap County (0-7-0).
 
BHGU-2024-1, Black-headed Gull – 24 January 2024, Edmonds Pier, Edmonds, Snohomish County (0-7-0).
 
HERG-2023-1, Vega Herring Gull – 5 November 2023, Wenzel Slough Rd., Satsop, Grays Harbor County (0-5-2).
 
WTSH-2023-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 24 September 2023, ~ 35 miles off shore, 46 deg, 29’ 26.946 N, 125 deg, 16’ 14.538 W, Pacific County (2-5-0).
 
GRAH-2024-1, Gray Heron – 29 January 2024, Port Ludlow Yacht Club, Port Ludlow, Jefferson County (0-7-0).
 
BLBW-2024-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 27 January 2024, Normandy Park, King County (0-7-0).
 
DICK-2016-4, Dickcissel (2) – 7 September 2016, Wylie Slough, Skagit County (0-7-0).

Thanks everyone for the reports

Matt Bartels
Secretary, WBRC
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20240526/eda818ed/attachment.html>